Mary Habila's father refuses to speak as family prepares burial without autopsy

Baba Habila, the father of 26-year-old Mary Habila who died at Minister David Umahi's residence, was at the morgue in Abakaliki this morning to receive her body. He declined all comments when contacted by SaharaReporters, speaking only through sobs before ending the call.

The family has announced Mary's burial will take place on Friday in Nok, Kaduna State. According to Jerry Andrew Ham of SOKAPU, the family will not request an autopsy before burial. This is despite police investigators insisting that an autopsy is necessary and rejecting attempts to release the body for burial while the investigation is ongoing.

Police sources have also disclosed that Jonathan Bawado, a police officer serving as Senator Umahi's Personal Assistant, was the one who brought Mary and another woman named Anita Baski to the minister's residence on June 26. Mary was found unresponsive the next morning. The circumstances of her death remain unclear, and the public is left wondering why the family would bury her without answers.